Nikomaeus is the second of three children. His elder sister Khymelia and his younger brother Markus both study under his mother who is a philosopher of the applied ethereal arts and lectures at the Provincial university. She (Hyphaerea) follows in the august steps of her late father who was martyred at grizzly peak when it was finally proven to his severe disappointment that the sword is mightier than the pen.
   His father Karmandine Varmindar is a member of one of the military families from the heartlands brought in to aid the transition of Tarsh after Hon Eel founded the current royal Dynasty. Nominally of Carmanian origin and normally insular and aloof to provincial intrigue his father fell out with the Iron Bull clan after becoming infatuated with Hyphaerea. According to family legend they fell in love while debating whether missionaries or military endeavours were the best way of expanding the philosophy and reach of the empire into new lands. The discussion continues to this day.
   Nikomaeus is the son his father wanted and was raised to be a warrior in his fathers footsteps, and by his mother as a scholar and philosopher. In the end his father won out since his sister Khymelia was his mothers favourite student and his father was adamant someone would follow his tradition. Pragmatically this outcome was at least preparation for the Draft edict for each Patron familiae to provide a professional levy for the expansion into Sartar.
   A mixed scholarly and athletic preparation does not prepare anyone for the horror of war , or of the tension and sullen hatred of an occupied land. The argument of missionaries vs militias is a distant thought when forcing the Orlanthi of Satar to bend the knee to a new Governor. Over seven years of active service Noko grew to hate the army and the political elite who calmly spend lives for political ambition. His unit was savaged in an ambush towards the end of the Grazelander campaign in 1615. He was briefly captured in a hope that he could be ransomed back . He eventually made his way back after winning an archery competition with his captor where his arrow shot through a tree with the help of a magical trick. When he finally made his way back to report in he found out he was assumed dead. Due to a clerical error the administrator couldnt amend- i.e the clerk had kept the ransom that was supposed to be paid he was sent to a far off outpost so the discrepancy would not be discovered. On arrival he found he had not superior or orders so is effective on unattached duty.
  The brutal repercussions in the wake of the rebellion left him with a bad taste in his mouth and second thoughts regarding military service.